Hardham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The earliest origins of the family name Hardham date back to the Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name given to a person with a tough character or perhaps for a person who would be strenuous and complete in their endeavors. The name is derived from the Old English words heard, which meant hard, and mann, which meant man. In keeping with this meaning, Hardiman was the first practical powered exoskeleton, by General Electric in 1965. There is another explanation for the origin of the name; it could be occupational, and be derived from the Old English heord, which meant herd, and could refer to the occupation of cowherd or shepherd. The records of the name found in Lancashire seem to follow this form. This makes this name a good example of an English polygenetic name; that is, a name with more than one origin taken on by unrelated groups of people. And yet another source claims the name was a nickname for "a man of courage and bravery." 1

Early Origins of the Hardham family

The surname Hardham was first found in Yorkshire where by far the most early records of the name was found. In this case, the "surname is derived from an occupation as in 'the servant of Hardy'." 2 The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list the following: Henricus Hardyman; Radulfus Hardyman and Ricardus Hardyman. "Every town in Yorkshire has one or two Hardmans in its directory, which is the settled modern form." 2

Early History of the Hardham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardham research. Another 47 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1563, 1575 and 1772 are included under the topic Early Hardham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardham Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hardham include Hardman, Hardeman, Hardyment, Hardymen, Hardiman and others.

Early Notables of the Hardham family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

John Hardham (d. 1772), was a tobacconist and benefactor of Chichester, born at Chichester, was the son of a wholesale provision merchant there. 3

Migration of the Hardham family to Ireland

Some of the Hardham family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardham migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hardham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Hardham, aged 31, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
Ann Hardham, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
Alice Hardham, aged 7, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873
Ann Hardham, aged 10 months, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Douglas" in 1873

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print